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FORUM / RUGBY /  Rugby: Hurricanes set for follow-up act; NZ Herald

Rugby: Hurricanes set for follow-up act; NZ Herald

Started by Just_win6 REPLIES149 VIEWS· 27 May 2014, 09:53
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JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
27 May 2014, 09:53
#1
27 May 2014, 09:53#1

It is hard to follow up putting 45 points on the defending Super Rugby champions.

After the Hurricanes produced a methodical 45-8 destruction of the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night, they quickly turned their focus to meeting the Blues at Eden park this Saturday.

Beauden Barrett was among a collection of Hurricanes who have been involved in the All Blacks' wider training group camp in Wellington, which finished today.

There's been plenty of talk surrounding his form this season, with either him or Aaron Cruden likely to be chosen to wear the No 10 jersey when the All Blacks host England in a three-test series next month with Dan Carter still on sabbatical

But rather than speculate on his own exploits, Barrett was more interested in talking about how the Hurricanes can remain on track as they look to keep hold of their place in the top six of the Super Rugby standings.

"That's our challenge. Last week we came off a loss against the Highlanders and backed up really well against the Chiefs," Barrett said.

"In the past we have struggled a bit after a really good win, keeping our feet on the ground."

Barrett and Co will rejoin the Hurricanes today and turn up their preparation for a Blues game, which holds great significance for their season given they probably need to win their final three outings.

Although he is aware of how well he is playing, Barrett, who has never started a test at first-five for the All Blacks in his previous 16 appearances, did his best to play down the excitement.

"I'm not one to read too much. You learn to take the good with the bad and just keep worrying about preparing each week for each game and I'm just worried about how the team's doing."

Barrett turned 23 today but said there were no plans for a big celebration and he just hoped to avoid any practical jokes from his teammates.

"I might have a quiet dinner; pretty low-key. I don't really like making a big deal over it but my girlfriend does."

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he was pleased with this week's three-day camp, which allowed his wider squad the opportunity to focus on recovery from the weekend's fixtures and look at their gameplan for next month.

The fitness of Crusaders No 8 Kieran Read has been an ongoing concern during the past month but Hansen said the 28-year-old was healthy.

"He's fine. He's just got over his head knock well and trained and now it's just getting his sinuses right, so he's training well and feeling good."

Hansen will name his 31-strong squad to meet England on Sunday and although four hookers were part of the wider training squad that number could be cut to two this weekend.

Keven Mealamu and Dane Coles are certainties but Hansen will soon decide whether Liam Coltman and Nathan Harris are up to international standard as three hookers may be selected.

Hansen indicated they would likely carry all three halfbacks, Aaron Smith Tawera Kerr-Barlow and TJ Perenara from their wider training group.

APNZ

JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
27 May 2014, 09:58
#2
27 May 2014, 09:58#2
 Canes v Blues will be another good game. Plenty of fire power in the backs & the forwards on both teams have shown an increasingly hard edge as season has progressed. Clevermike & Beeno may disagree with the last statement of cou rse
3K
3ku1Pro2,580 posts
27 May 2014, 10:15
#3
27 May 2014, 10:15#3
Yeah the Canes Blues game well be a tough one, but so was the Cheifs one and look what happened their haha sorry JW. Blues are in terrible form, they have shown patches in their games, but if they play like they did againgst the Sharks, againgst a more proficient side like the Canes, they well get slaughtered. Although I expect the Blues to front up, they well be desperate for a win to end their season, but Canes well be equally desperate. Seeing the form Canes are in, if they gain any parity at the breakdown its the usual story for them consistency, if they get that they should win by about ten points.  
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
27 May 2014, 10:26
#4
27 May 2014, 10:26#4
3ku1: Blues at Eden park mate,lol They need to be taken seriously when playing on that field (Albany is a different story). And agree with you in that the Blues will front up & Canes need to show consistency (they have shown more of this this season for sure).
Canes v Chiefs, that was last week already 
CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
27 May 2014, 11:17
#5
27 May 2014, 11:17#5
The Chiefs was poor last Saturday - matter of fact it was kind of expected.  Their record away from home was really a farce this year and they can trace their problems back to a poor forward combination.   
The Hurricanes are bad travellers as well and it would eb interesting to see what they produce on the road.   I would say that it would be a more equal game and think that the Hurricanes should win - but not by the margin they achieved against the Chiefs.   Could be an interesting and nice game to watch.   The Canes backline should be too good for the Blues with the lazy (and dirty) Nonu in the game.   If he tried what he did on Satuday he would be bench-warming for at least 10 minutes.   
On the Blues side they have a problem - Hickey is gone and they will have to find another flyhalf.   They are very thin n the ground in that position - a fact that would further disrupt their performance.   
So a win by say 20 points by the Canes may be on the cards.           
3K
3ku1Pro2,580 posts
27 May 2014, 13:02
#6
27 May 2014, 13:02#6
 Yeah last time Canes and Blues played it was a margin of almost 20 points in Canes favor. But of course Canes since then lost to Tahs. Beat Rebels by 10 points away, lost to Landers by a few pnts, and smashed the Cheifs by 36 pts. So thats a mixed bag of many variations haha, only wan one away this year, Eden Park is always hard, but canes tight five has come leaps and bounds, Blues have struggled for consistency, particularly at Ten. Where clearly Canes have been prominant at, with the in form ten of Super Rugby Barratt. Canes have also a very settled, in form, consistent loose trio of Lam, Levave, and Vito with Savea off the bench. Where as Luatua has struggled off the bench, and JK doesent seem to kno who shld start, and with injuries at 7 its bn a toss up. So i think at Ten and Loose tro, and breakdown well be the key difference, vito vs Kaino shld be interesting. Read Blues are getting Dan Bowden back, good player but maybe Ihai West well get a start this weekend.
CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
27 May 2014, 13:17
#7
27 May 2014, 13:17#7
West should - since I think Hickey should be now have joined the Under 20 team for the WC campaign.    Should do well in that competition provided the forwards are up to scratch.
I think that West is better than any other option of the Blues.   I can remember hin from the 2012 WC squad of New Zealand -  when he was really the only good enough player in that NZ team.       
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